Foreign and Commonwealth Office

China: Christianity

the lord bishop of st albans: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made ofreports of (1) churches being demolished, in particular the demolition of the Donghu Church, Qinghai Province, and (2) Christians streaming religious services at home being arrested,in China

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are aware of reports of the demolition of Donghu Church and remain concerned by restrictions placed on Christians and other religious groups in China, including reports of individuals being detained for their beliefs. The freedom to practice, change or share ones faith or belief without discrimination or violent opposition is a human right that all people should enjoy.

Repatriation: Coronavirus

lord hain: To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent steps they have taken to repatriate (1) British citizens, and (2) UK residents, overseas during the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK Government is working with the airline industry and host governments across the world to help bring back British travellers to the UK as part of the plan announced by the Foreign Secretary on 30 March - with up to £75 million available for special charter flights from priority countries, focused on helping the most vulnerable travellers. We have now brought home nearly 31,000 people on 144 flights organised by the Foreign Office from 27 countries and territoriesTo get as many people back as quickly as possible, we have encouraged and facilitated the use of commercial transport options where these exist. Since the outbreak in Wuhan, we estimate that over 1.3 million people have returned to the UK via commercial routes - the majority supported by our work with airlines and foreign governments to keep vital routes open. Our effort is now focused on supporting the return as quickly and safely as possible of the tens of thousands British nationals remaining overseas and wishing to return.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

lord hain: To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent discussions the Foreign Secretary has had with his counterpart in the government of Iran about the permanent release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are relieved that Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was temporarily released on March 17. While her further extension is a welcome step, we continue to urge the Iranian Government to immediately release her - and all UK dual nationals arbitrarily detained in Iran - to enable them to return to their families in the UK. The Foreign Secretary raised this with Foreign Minister Zarif on 16 March and Minister of State for the Middle East with the Iranian Ambassador on 26 March. Our Ambassador in Tehran consistently raises all of our dual national detainees with the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Hong Kong: Politics and Government

lord hain: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representationsthey havemade to the government of Chinaabout the recent arrests of political opponents by the Hong Kong police.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are concerned by the arrests of a number of political figures in Hong Kong, and are following these cases closely. We expect any arrests and judicial processes to be conducted in a fair and transparent manner. The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to Hong Kong's way of life and as such is protected in both the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law. It is essential that any protests are conducted peacefully, and that the authorities avoid actions that inflame tensions. The authorities should focus on rebuilding trust through a process of meaningful political dialogue. Officials have raised our concerns with the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities.

Israeli Settlements

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made ofthe letter sent by 130 parliamentarians calling for sanctions to be imposed on the government of Israel should the annexation of the West Bank take place.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: This letter is currently being considered and the Government will respond in due course.

South China Sea

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of China about that government's naming of 80 reefs, seamounts, shoals and ridges and other geographical features in the South China Sea, 55 of those submerged at all states of the tide; and what assessment they have made of that government's claims to sovereignty on underwater features more than 12 nautical miles from Chinese land.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The position of Her Majesty's Government is to oppose any activity which raises tensions or seeks to alter the facts on the ground in the South China Sea. We take no position on sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea and encourage all parties to settle their disputes peacefully through the existing legal mechanisms, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). We have frequent discussions with Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and several other nations on the South China Sea, including as part of high-level political dialogues. Officials have raised our concerns about recent incidents in the South China Sea, including the creation of new administrative territories, with Chinese authorities.China is a party to UNCLOS and ratified it in 1996. The UK challenges China where their interpretation differs from ours. For example, the UK has objected to China's claims based on "historic rights" in the South China Seas on the basis that such claims are not founded in law, insofar as it would be inconsistent with international law as reflected in UNCLOS.The UK's position with regard to the classification of maritime features is that States may classify as islands those features which meet the definition of islands in Article 121(1) of UNCLOS. The UK's position is also that, as provided in Article 121(3) of UNCLOS, rocks which cannot sustain human habitation or economic life of their own shall have no exclusive economic zone or continental shelf. In addition, the UK's position is that under UNCLOS, low tide elevations which are situated beyond the breadth of the territorial sea from the mainland or an island, are not entitled to a territorial sea, and cannot be appropriated by any State.

China: UN Convention on the Law of the Sea

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the government of China has ratified the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea; and if so, what assessment they have made of that government’s compliance with that convention.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The position of Her Majesty's Government is to oppose any activity which raises tensions or seeks to alter the facts on the ground in the South China Sea. We take no position on sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea and encourage all parties to settle their disputes peacefully through the existing legal mechanisms, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). We have frequent discussions with Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and several other nations on the South China Sea, including as part of high-level political dialogues. Officials have raised our concerns about recent incidents in the South China Sea, including the creation of new administrative territories, with Chinese authorities.China is a party to UNCLOS and ratified it in 1996. The UK challenges China where their interpretation differs from ours. For example, the UK has objected to China's claims based on "historic rights" in the South China Seas on the basis that such claims are not founded in law, insofar as it would be inconsistent with international law as reflected in UNCLOS.The UK's position with regard to the classification of maritime features is that States may classify as islands those features which meet the definition of islands in Article 121(1) of UNCLOS. The UK's position is also that, as provided in Article 121(3) of UNCLOS, rocks which cannot sustain human habitation or economic life of their own shall have no exclusive economic zone or continental shelf. In addition, the UK's position is that under UNCLOS, low tide elevations which are situated beyond the breadth of the territorial sea from the mainland or an island, are not entitled to a territorial sea, and cannot be appropriated by any State.

Iran: Capital Punishment

lord turnberg: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, on 22 April, condemning the execution of two prisoners under the age of 18 by the Iranian authorities.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are deeply concerned by the reports of the executions of these two juvenile offenders. In her statement, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, stated these executions are prohibited under international human rights law and has violated the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Iran had signed up to. It remains a long-standing policy of the United Kingdom to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. The UK regularly raises human rights with the Iranian authorities at all levels and we continue to take action with the international community to press Iran to improve its poor record on all human rights issues.

China: Nuclear Disarmament

lord campbell of pittenweem: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of China about nuclear disarmament verification.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK strongly supports effective nuclear disarmament verification as a vital step towards eventual nuclear disarmament. Nuclear disarmament verification has been regularly discussed with all five Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Nuclear Weapons States as part of the so called 'P5 process', including at the first meeting in 2009 and at a dedicated meeting in 2012, both chaired by the UK. There have also been two bilateral meetings between UK and Chinese technical institutions involved in disarmament verification research, and both China and the UK participated in the UN Group of Governmental Experts to consider the role of verification in advancing nuclear disarmament.More broadly, the UK holds a regular Non-Proliferation Dialogue with China which allows for discussions on issues including nuclear security architecture, arms control and nuclear disarmament. The most recent Dialogue took place in November 2019 where the UK encouraged China to re-join the International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verification.

Nuclear Disarmament

lord campbell of pittenweem: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with other permanent members of the United Nations Security Council about nuclear disarmament.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK works with the other permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (or P5) to uphold the global security framework, and, in their character as Nuclear Weapon States recognised by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), on nuclear disarmament. In 2009, the UK initiated the so-called 'P5 Process' of dialogue between the five on issues related to the NPT. In February 2020 the UK hosted the ninth Conference of this process in London, where the five Nuclear Weapons States considered progress on the three pillars of the NPT - disarmament, non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy - and preparations for the next NPT Review Conference. During its coordination of the P5 process in 2019/20, the UK has prioritised P5 collective work on increasing confidence and transparency, as well as building our mutual understanding of strategic risk reduction concepts and our respective nuclear doctrines. In addition, with the other Nuclear Weapon States, the UK fully participates in the Conference of Disarmament and other international meetings, including the US-led 'Creating an Environment for Nuclear Disarmament' initiative, to progress our collective commitment to eventual nuclear disarmament.

Human Rights: Coronavirus

baroness northover: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking internationally to ensure human rights are safeguarded, including in relation to the use of surveillance, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness northover: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken, if any, to coordinate an international response to any misuse of government power in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are concerned by reports that some governments are using the current crisis to fail to comply with their human rights obligations, including in relation to the use of surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic. On 9 April, the UK participated in the UN Human Rights Council's first ever virtual conversation with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Discussion focused on the human rights implications of the COVID-19 crisis; both the immediate impact of the response on human rights around the world, and the social and economic consequences, including the prospect of greater inequality. In his statement to the Council, our Ambassador to the UN in Geneva stressed the importance of ensuring that parliaments, media and civil society all play their role to scrutinise the actions of governments and international agencies, and that we make use of the international human rights frameworks. We support the call made by the UN Secretary-General in his message of 22 April that human rights must be at the front and centre of the COVID-19 response and recovery. The UK Government remains committed to standing up for human rights and supports all efforts by the UN to minimise long-term damage to global economies, societies, politics and freedoms.

Human Rights and Press Freedom: Coronavirus

baroness northover: To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they are providing to (1) human rights defenders, and (2) journalists, in relation to work to document international responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK is committed to protecting and promoting human rights throughout the world through both bilateral and multilateral engagement. We work with and support human rights defenders, who play an essential role in upholding and promoting respect for human rights, democratic freedoms and civil society. The UK published the document 'UK Support for Human Rights Defenders' in July 2019, making it available in all six UN languages to ensure its widest reach. It sets out our ongoing dedication to supporting and protecting human rights defenders worldwide. Our diplomatic network will always take into account the local context and regularly engages with NGO representatives and human rights defenders to address the challenges which human rights defenders face and how the UK can help overcome them. The UK will continue to give strong support to human rights defenders worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic to enable them to carry out their work safely and without fear, and we regularly assess how we can enhance our ability to make a positive difference.

Armed Conflict

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any progress towards a truce from Yemen, Libya and North and South Sudan; and what steps they are taking to promote a renunciation of the use of force by all states and other militant entities

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We continue to work closely with international partners towards peace in Yemen, Libya, Sudan and South Sudan, amongst other countries in conflict.We fully support the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and the UN Special Envoy's call for all parties to engage in urgent political talks and de-escalate the conflict in Yemen. Now that Saudi Arabia have extended their unilateral ceasefire it is more important than ever that all parties seize this opportunity for progress in Yemen. A permanent ceasefire and co-operation with the UN-led political process is the best defence we have against a potentially devastating outbreak of COVID-19.We are also deeply concerned by the continuing fighting in Libya. All the signs are that, despite calls for a humanitarian truce, hostilities are continuing on all sides. UK leadership helped secure UN Security Council Resolution 2510, which demands full compliance with the UN arms embargo and an end to foreign military interference in Libya. We continue to urge all parties to agree a ceasefire and return to UN-led political talks, which is the only means of achieving the peace and stability that most Libyans crave.We welcome recent progress made in both Sudan and South Sudan towards resolving their long-running conflicts. Through our membership of the Troika, we have engaged their governments and international partners to support their respective peace processes. At the UN Security Council on 28 April, the UK urged both governments to continue to focus on building sustainable peace. In South Sudan, conflict between the parties to the September 2018 Peace Agreement has reduced. In February this year, the formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity marked a significant step forward in implementing the deal, bringing opposition leaders into the government. Although implementation of the Peace Agreement has slowed since the COVID-19 outbreak, we continue to urge all sides to ensure momentum is maintained. The Minister for Africa reiterated this point with 1st Vice President Machar on 29 April.On Sudan, the UK supports Prime Minister Hamdok's commitment to secure a sustainable peace agreement to end conflicts in the county. We welcome initial progress in peace negotiations and agreement of a cessation of hostilities. We continued to urge all sides to engage constructively and swiftly to reach a comprehensive and inclusive peace agreement; at the UN Security Council on 24 April we urged all Sudanese stakeholders to remain fully committed in the efforts to achieve lasting peace.

Coronavirus: Children

baroness sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government for a report from their Permanent Representative to the United Nations on how governments are responding to the statement by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child's statement on the physical, emotionaland psychological effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on children, published on 8 April.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK Government is concerned that COVID-19 and measures taken to tackle it could have a disproportionate impact on marginalised and vulnerable groups, and is clear that measures taken to tackle the crisis must be designed to mitigate, rather than contribute to, this. We are working with international partners to ensure that child protection is integrated into a comprehensive response to COVID-19 that supports those groups who will be hit the hardest and are often with limited or no state protection. We welcome the statement made by the Chairpersons of the 10 UN Treaty Bodies on 24 March calling for a human rights approach in fighting COVID-19 and in the subsequent guidance provided by other Treaty Bodies, such as the Committee on the Rights of the Child. In negotiations in Geneva on a draft Human Rights Council Presidential statement on human rights and COVID-19, the UK has supported specific mention of children's rights, and proposed additional language highlighting the need to consider the particular situation of women and girls, and the role they can play in the response. A number of other countries have also proposed adding strengthened wording on children's rights, reflecting many of the concerns raised in the statement by the Committee on the Rights of the Child.

British Council: Coronavirus

lord hain: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide additional financial support to the British Council during the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) remains committed to the British Council, who are a key driver of our soft power overseas and a precious part of the FCO family. In order to help stabilise their immediate financial position following the impact of Covid-19 on their ability to operate, we agreed to provide the British Council with £26m of additional funding for the 2019-20 financial year. We have also provided some of their 2020-21 Grant-in-Aid funding upfront this month to further alleviate pressures.The FCO have also supported the British Council in accessing wider government relief available through the COVID-19 Job Retention Scheme and similar schemes in other countries. This will help them support many of their workforce, and those employed through its partners, funded through the commercial side of their business. We will continue to work closely with the British Council in the coming days and weeks to seek to address the impact of COVID-19 on their ability to operate.

British Nationals Abroad: Coronavirus

lord hain: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assistance they are providing to British nationals with urgent medical needs that cannot be met in the countries in which they are located.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: British travellers with urgent medical needs should get in touch with their insurer as soon as possible and call the relevant Embassy, High Commission or Consulate before they run out of medication if they have not been able to replace it using our published advice.Since 23 March we have advised British travellers to return home. Where commercial options are not available, we have organised charter flights, prioritising the most vulnerable. For any British travellers still abroad, our consular teams are available to assist those with medication needs.Our Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates continue to support individual consular cases as they arise, prioritizing the most vulnerable.

Syria: Coronavirus

lord hain: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with overseas counterparts on a coherent international response to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic leading to further instability in Syria.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK recognises the significant threat posed by COVID-19 in Syria. We are therefore speaking regularly to other countries and donors engaged in Syria as well as to the UN regarding the need to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Syria. In bilateral discussions we have also expressed our support for an immediate, nationwide ceasefire to enable complete focus on countering COVID-19. The Minister for the Middle East and North Africa discussed this with Geir Pedersen, UN Special Envoy for Syria, on 1 April; President of the Syrian Negotiation Commission, Nasr al Hariri, on 14 April; the US Envoy for Syria, Ambassador Jeffrey, on 17 April; and the Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister on 27 April. We have also raised the risks posed by COVID-19 in Syria at the UN Security Council on 30 March and 29 April.

Jerusalem: Religious Freedom

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that Israeli authorities have prevented dawn drummers from operating during Ramadan in the Old City of Jerusalem.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: While we have not made an assessment of these reports, we are committed to working with all parties to ensure that Jerusalem can remain a diverse city which affords all of its residents freedom of religion and belief and respects the status quo of the holy sites.

Iraq: Kurds

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps, if any, they are taking following threats by the government of Iraq to withhold federal budget payments to the Kurdistan Regional Government.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK encourages the Government of Iraq (GOI) and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to work together to resolve all issues in line with the Iraq Constitution. Following the appointment of new Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, we will continue to encourage strong GOI-KRG cooperation, including on issues relating to federal budget payments to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Iran: Satellites

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Iran about the launching of a satellite by the Revolutionary Guard on 22 April; what information they have on the carrier used to launch the satellite; and what information they have sought from that government about the purpose of the satellite.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are aware of reports concerning the recent launch of a military satellite by the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC). The launch - using ballistic missile technology - is of significant concern and inconsistent with UN Security Council Resolution 2231. The UN has called upon Iran not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons. Iran must abide by this. We remain concerned about the activities of the IRGC and the revelation it has developed an independent military space launch capability, and call on Iran urgently to cease all forms of destabilising activity.

Yemen: Politics and Government

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current situation in southern Yemen, following the declaration on 25 April by Aydarous al-Zubaidi of the establishment of self-rule in Adenand other southern provinces inthat country.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The announcement of self-rule by the Southern Transitional Council is a dangerous move which risks prolonging the conflict. The UK supports the Saudi-brokered Riyadh Agreement between the Government of Yemen and the Southern Transitional Council. The Riyadh Agreement is the best means of restoring security and stability to Southern Yemen and the UK urges the parties to resume their efforts towards implementation. We are encouraging the parties to refrain from unconstructive acts and statements, and we are working with them to agree a way forward. This is more important than ever after the heavy flooding in the South and the recent confirmation of deaths in Yemen from COVID-19.

Libya: Politics and Government

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current situation in Libya, further to the speech by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar on 27 April rejecting the 2015 UN-mediated Libyan Political Agreement and seeking to empower the General Command of the Arab Libyan Armed Force to take charge of that country’s governing institutions.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Government is deeply concerned by the continuing fighting in Libya and actively engaged in international diplomatic efforts to bring it to an end. All the signs are that, despite calls for a humanitarian truce, hostilities are continuing on all sides. We are calling on all the parties, including Khalifa Haftar, to de-escalate, support a ceasefire, ensure humanitarian access, and return to UN-led political talks. The Libyan institutions set up by the 2015 Libyan Political Agreement remain central to that process.

Department of Health and Social Care

Coronavirus: Death

lord marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many deaths as a result of COVID-19 have occurred in a hospital, broken down by each hospital.

lord bethell: Data broken down by trusts and regions on deaths of patients who have died in hospitals in England and had tested positive for COVID-19 at time of death or where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate is attached, due to the size of the data.



COVID_daily_announced_deaths
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Coronavirus: Ventilators

lord marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many patients who are being treated in hospital for COVID-19 have been attached to a ventilator.

lord bethell: Information on the number of patients who are being treated in hospitals for COVID-19 and have been attached to a ventilator is not currently published. We will continue to review what data we make publicly available.

Influenza: Vaccination

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many flu vaccines have been manufactured in the UK in each of the last three years.

lord bethell: The Department does not hold this information. This is commercial information.

Coronavirus: Protective Clothing

lord warner: To ask Her Majesty's Government on what date they first requested help from the British Healthcare Trades Association to obtain personal protective equipment, and other equipment, needed as a result of COVID-19; and what action has been agreed as a result of their discussions with that Association.

lord bethell: The Department meets with a number of trade associations, including the British Healthcare Trades Association, on a weekly basis. There have been regular discussions at these meetings on the challenges of responding to COVID-19. The Government issued a ‘call to arms’ for industry partners and other manufacturers to respond through a central hub for COVID-19 support. So far, we have received over 12,000 offers of support.

Hospital Wards: Gender

baroness nicholson of winterbourne: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to review their Delivering same-sex Accommodation guidance, published in September 2019, particularly Annex B: Delivering same-sex accommodation for trans people and gender variant children; and if so, when.

baroness nicholson of winterbourne: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to withdraw the Delivering same-sex Accommodation guidance, published in September 2019.

baroness nicholson of winterbourne: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Delivering same-sex Accommodation guidance, published in September 2019, provides for someone who is undergoing a personal process of changing gender but who (1) is not planning to undergo, (2) is not currently undergoing, or (3) has not undergone, gender reassignment by changing physiological or other attributes of sex; and if so, why.

baroness nicholson of winterbourne: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of allowing patients to self-identify their gender on (1) the treatment of such patients, and (2) other patients accommodated in the same wards.

baroness nicholson of winterbourne: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether hospitals are required to provide single-sex services to patients.

lord bethell: In September 2019, NHS England and NHS Improvement published a revised version of the guidance on Delivering Same-Sex Accommodation. The team are reviewing feedback received and considering further revisions.The guidance is clear that providers of National Health Service-funded care are expected to have a zero-tolerance approach to mixed-sex accommodation, except where it is in the overall best interest of all patients affected. There are some clinical circumstances where mixed sex accommodation can be justified. These are few, and mainly confined to patients who need highly specialised care, such as that delivered in critical care units.There are currently no plans to withdraw the guidance. The guidance is relevant to all patients including patients who have the protected characteristic of gender reassignment as set out in the Equality Act 2010. That is, a person who is proposing to undergo, is undergoing or has undergone a process (or part of a process) for the purpose of reassigning sex. The review will include consideration of whether the language used within the guidance needs to be clearer.NHS trusts have not been asked to provide the information required to make an assessment of the impact of allowing patients to self-identify their gender and there are no plans to ask them to do so. NHS trusts will be required to provide single sex services to patients, unless it is appropriate to do otherwise based on the patient’s clinical condition.

Coronavirus: Protective Clothing

lord marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the evidence (1) for, and (2) against, the use of protective face masks to limit the spread of COVID-19 between individuals who have to enter public spaces or use public transport to go to work; and in what circumstances they would recommend the use of such masks.

lord bethell: The United Kingdom Government continues to be led by the evidence in our response to COVID-19. Following Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies advice, from 11 May the Government advises the public to consider wearing a face covering in confined indoor settings where social distancing is not possible or where they are more likely to come into contact with people they do not normally meet, for example on public transport or in some shops.The evidence suggests that wearing a face covering does not protect you, but it may provide some protection for others you come into close contact with if you are infected but have not developed symptoms. It is important to wear face-coverings properly and wash your hands before putting them on or taking them off.

Speech and Language Therapy

lord ramsbotham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists about the use of aerosol generating procedures.

lord ramsbotham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to update the COVID-19 infection and control guidance, published on 6 April, to include all aerosol generating procedures carried out by speech and language therapists.

lord bethell: The evidence around aerosol generating procedures (AGPs) is being kept under review; the evidence review is led by Public Health Scotland.Public Health England has not held discussions with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists about AGPs.This guidance has been written and reviewed by all four United Kingdom public health bodies and informed by National Health Service infection prevention control experts. It is based on Health Protection Scotland evidence reviews and the evidence and reviews have been endorsed by New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG). A rapid evidence appraisal has been conducted by Health Protection Scotland to assess the risk of patient to healthcare worker infection transmission associated with a wide range of potentially aerosol generating medical procedures. An updated evidence review and the position on the presented evidence review from NERVTAG is awaited.

Doctors: Migrant Workers

baroness finlay of llandaff: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether refugee doctors who are not yet fully registered with the General Medical Council are able to work in the NHS as medical assistants; and if so,(1) what pay grade they are placed on, and (2)whether they are afforded full indemnity, including full vicarious liability indemnity and death in service compensation.

lord bethell: The local employing organisation will decide if refugee doctors who are not registered with the General Medical Council are able to work in the National Health Service. All providers of Care Quality Commission-regulated activity have a duty to ensure that their staff have the skills, knowledge and experience for the work undertaken.A temporary Medical Support Worker job description has been developed in collaboration with the Chief Medical Officer’s office, designed for doctors who are not registered with the General Medical Council. The NHS Job Evaluation Scheme, which helps to ensure staff receive equal pay for work of equal value, has evaluated this job as band 6, meaning a basic salary of £31,365 to £37,890. Enhancements may also be paid for working unsocial hours.Indemnity for individuals employed or engaged to work for an NHS trust will be covered by the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts and if they are engaged by a general practitioner (GP) practice providing NHS GP services, they will be covered by the Clinical Negligence Scheme for General Practice. To ensure there are no gaps in indemnity coverage for NHS staff, the Coronavirus Act 2020 provides additional powers to provide clinical negligence indemnity for NHS activities related to the COVID-19 outbreak, where there is no other indemnity arrangement in place. Information about death in service compensation is yet to be confirmed.

Care Homes: Coronavirus

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that letters have been circulated by GP surgeries to residents in care homes in the East of England stating that residents are “unlikely to benefit from mechanical ventilation” and will not be offered the treatment in hospital if admitted with COVID-19; whether any such letters have been circulated elsewhere; and on what authority and basis such guidance was issued. [T]

lord bethell: We are aware of reports of people in care homes being told by general practitioner (GP) surgeries that they are unlikely to be prioritised for mechanical ventilation if they contract COVID-19, because they could be too ‘frail’. This stemmed from recent National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance on prioritising critical care. NICE was forced to revise the guidance, which included use of the clinical frailty scale (CFS), following allegations it discriminated against people with learning and other disabilities. The guidance was revised on 25 March 2020 and now states: “The Clinical Frailty Score should not be used in younger people, people with stable long-term disabilities (for example, cerebral palsy), learning disability or autism. An individualised assessment is recommended in all cases where the CFS is not appropriate.”A letter was sent on 3 April 2020 to primary care, acute trusts and community trusts from the National Director of Mental Health, National Clinical Director (for Learning Disability and Autism) and the Medical Director for Primary Care to the NHS on the appropriate use of Do not Resuscitate forms and clinical frailty assessments (which can be used to assess whether critical care is appropriate for a patient) following recent reports on inappropriate use. A copy of the letter is attached.Furthermore, a letter to the system from Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer, and Steve Powis, National Medical Director at NHS England and NHS Improvement was sent out on 7 April 2020, addressing concerns recently raised regarding the use of DNR forms and supporting best practice in the application of advance care plans. A copy of the letter is attached.Finally, NHS England and NHS Improvement have produced a GP Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for managing COVID-19 in general practice, published on 6 April. This includes a COVID-19 advance care plan template, guidance notes for completing an advance care plan and states that “Advance care plans should be made on an individual basis. It is not acceptable for advance care plans, with or without Do Not Attempt Resuscitation forms, to be applied to groups of patients”. A copy of the SOP is attached.



COVID_Primary_Care_SOP_GP_practice
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Letter_LD_AUTISM_DNACPR
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Lord Deighton

lord adonis: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any conflicts of interest relating to Lord Deighton’s appointment to a government position on 18 April 2020 and his commercial work, including his chairmanship of Heathrow Airport Ltd, and whether they intend to publish these assessments.

lord adonis: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Commissioner for Public Appointments advised on the appointment of Lord Deighton to his government post on 18 April, and whether they will publish that advice.

lord adonis: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to publish the letter of appointment, job description and correspondence with Heathrow Airport Ltd relating to Lord Deighton’s government post announced on 18 April.

lord bethell: Lord Deighton has kindly agreed to be an unpaid advisor to help the Government with the COVID-19 response. He is leading the Government’s efforts to secure sufficient critical personal protective equipment (PPE) and ensure this gets to where it is needed. As part of this, he will drive forward coordination of the end-to-end process design and manufacture of new domestic PPE supplies.

Coronavirus: Death

lord dobbs: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the response byLord Bethell on 22 April (HL Deb, col 56),whenthey will publish their analysis of the increase in non-COVID-19 deaths that has taken place as a result of the restrictions in place to address the pandemic; and when they expect to publishan analysis of (1) the predicted trends, and (2) the estimated totals, for future non-COVID-19deaths as a result of such restrictions. [T]

lord bethell: The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is publishing a report on the increase in non-COVID-19 deaths observed in weekly deaths statistics, in coming weeks. This is mentioned in ONS’s statement of upcoming analysis on deaths and COVID-19. The report will analyse how the number of non-COVID-19 deaths occurring in different places of death, for different age groups and for different causes of death differ from previous years’ data and will suggest how these findings correspond with possible reasons for the increase.

Clinics: Nutrition

baroness bakewell of hardington mandeville: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that NHS dietary clinics can reopen to provide support to patients and the NHS quickly.

lord bethell: Some NHS services were temporarily suspended whilst we concentrated on dealing with COVID-19. Now, as a result of the measures put in place, we appear to have come through the peak of new cases being reported and it has been decided to begin the ‘reset’ of services across the National Health Service, including nutrition and dietary services. Decisions on how to do this will be taken locally, based on local demand. The NHS issued guidance to NHS service providers on 29 April outlining the next steps in the NHS response to COVID-19.

Care Homes: Coronavirus

baroness jones of moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of personal protective equipment guidance on the spread of COVID-19 in care homes, and in particular guidance for looking after residents who are not in the very vulnerable category and who are not displaying symptoms of COVID-19.[T]

lord bethell: During the current period of sustained transmission of COVID-19, we recommend the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) regardless of whether residents in care homes have symptoms or not.Working with care sector representative bodies, Public Health England (PHE) published tailored guidance COVID-19 How to work safely in care homes on 17 April, as well as a specialised training video demonstrating the donning and doffing of PPE in care home settings. The PHE guidance also provides tables on when and which PPE to use. A copy of the guidance is attached.



COVID-19_How_to_work_safely_in_care_homes
(PDF Document, 292.74 KB)

Travellers: Coronavirus

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to protect public health in Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord bethell: The Government takes the welfare of all citizens seriously and we are working hard to ensure people get the support they need to look after themselves and their families during the COVID-19 outbreak. This includes enabling all communities to take the necessary measures to reduce the spread of the virus.The Minister of State for Home Affairs and Housing, Communities and Local Government (Lord Greenhalgh) wrote to councils outlining their responsibility to support all communities, including Gypsy and Traveller communities, and to ensure they have access to water, sanitation and waste collections.COVID-19 health guidance for members of Gypsy, Traveller and Boater communities is currently in development for dissemination in a range of formats.NHS England and NHS Improvement have written to general practice reminding them of the importance of continuing to deliver appropriate care to their local population and the requirements on registration of patients, including those with no fixed address.

General Practitioners: Training

lord pendry: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to allow (1) final year GP Speciality trainees, and (2) those on the Targeted GP Training Scheme, to join the GP Register without completing their final exams.

lord pendry: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to allow individuals who have completed three years of GP Speciality Training but failed to pass the Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners examination to join the GP register.

lord bethell: The Government has no plans to allow general practitioners (GPs) in training who have not completed their final exams, or those who have failed to pass the Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners’ examination, to join the GP register.The emergency powers in the Medical Act 1983 do not allow the General Medical Council to grant temporary specialist or GP registration to doctors who have not previously held this type of registration.If a doctor has been removed from GP training due to failure to demonstrate competence for practice, there is no means in statute for them to become fully qualified GPs without demonstrating this competence.The Royal College of General Practitioners and the four statutory education bodies are working to find a solution for trainees who have had their examinations cancelled as a result of COVID-19 to demonstrate their competence and qualify as a GP. A temporary recorded alternative to the Clinical Skills Assessment is rapidly being developed (subject to approval by the General Medical Council). The Royal College of General Practitioners is also working with their testing partner to enable the Applied Knowledge Test to resume at test centres with appropriate social distancing safeguards in place from July and are investigating options for remote invigilation for those who are shielding.

Disease Control

baroness thornton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the plansdevelopedby NHS England to improve pandemic response planning as a result of Exercise Cygnus.

lord bethell: NHS England is a key partner in the ongoing cross-Government work to develop the United Kingdom’s pandemic preparedness. This Department continues to work across Government and with key stakeholders, including NHS England, to develop coordinated multi-sector response plans for a future influenza pandemic.The lessons from Exercise Cygnus, along with expert scientific, clinical and operational advice, have informed the UK’s preparedness to ensure that the country remains well prepared for infectious disease outbreaks. This includes work such as development of draft legislation support to the health system response to a future influenza pandemic and strengthening plans to surge and flex beyond normal operations, as demonstrated by the considerable increase in critical care capacity as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

NHS: Coronavirus

lord bourne of aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they are seeking to reward those working in the National Health Service during the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord bethell: We are incredibly proud of all National Health Service staff and we are working hard to ensure that staff feel supported and safe to continue the fight against COVID-19 and their extraordinary commitment is recognised.Pay for over one million Agenda for Change (AfC) staff is already set for 2020/21 as part of the agreed three year pay and contract reform deal and for doctors and dentists in training following a four-year pay and contract reform deal agreed in June 2019 (2019/20 – 2022/23).The Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration will make pay recommendations for 2020/21 as usual for consultants and speciality doctors. Next year it will be for the NHS Pay Review Body to make recommendations for the pay of staff on AfC contracts from April 2021.We want to ensure that the NHS employment offer continues to attract, retain and reward staff and this offer continues to be kept under review.

Social Services: Coronavirus

baroness wheeler: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many local authorities have used the provisions of the Coronavirus Act 2020 to suspend or reduce (1) care assessments, (2) carer assessments, (3) financial assessments and (4) care reviews.

lord bethell: As of 6 May, seven local authorities have used the provisions of the Coronavirus Act 2020.Under the guidance for local authorities, there is no requirement to notify the Department about the details of the use of this provision. Recording by local authorities remains a priority and will help them to ensure accountability and provide evidence for the thought processes behind the decisions they will be making.

Care Homes: Coronavirus

baroness jones of moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many care home residents were transferred to hospital with symptoms related to COVID-19 between 3 and 24 April.

lord bethell: The Government does not hold data on the number of residents transferred from care homes to hospitals with symptoms related to COVID-19. We are working closely with local authorities, the care sector and NHS England to understand the impact of COVID-19 on care homes and ensure everyone has access to the right care in the most appropriate setting for their needs.This is an unprecedented global pandemic and we will continue to work closely with the sector to keep our policies and data under review as the pandemic goes on.

Health Services: Contracts

baroness crawley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish details of any contracts made with private healthcare providers for the provision of NHS funded acute care.

lord bethell: NHS England will ensure that details of the contracts it has entered into under the 2020 Directions are published online on the GOV.UK website, in accordance with regulation 4(1) of The National Health Service (Procurement, Patient Choice and Competition) (No. 2) Regulations 2013.

Contraceptives

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many NHS maternity units in England provide contraception to mothers after delivery so that there is no immediate need to access such services from a GP.

lord bethell: Women who give birth are given information about, and offered a choice of, all contraceptive methods by their midwife within seven days of delivery and therefore have no immediate need to access such services from a general practitioner.

Department for Education

Apprentices: Coronavirus

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of young people losing apprenticeship opportunities due to the current crisis; and what plans they have to provide access to high-quality and independent advice and guidance for such young people.

baroness berridge: We have introduced flexibilities to make it easier for apprentices of all ages to continue to benefit from the high-quality training that an apprenticeship provides. We are encouraging providers and assessment organisations to deliver training and assessments remotely and are keen that providers remain open for business to support learners.Furloughed apprentices can continue to train and undertake end point assessments ensuring they can continue to progress in their careers. Where it is not possible to continue training, employers and providers can now initiate a break in learning so that the apprenticeship can resume when possible. We are pleased that 81% of apprentices have been able to continue with their studies.We are also supporting employers and training providers during this challenging time so that people can continue to access high-quality apprenticeship opportunities. Employers can still recruit and start apprentices and eligible furloughed employees can also start apprenticeships.Our new Apprenticeship Hub contains a full list of our guidance for apprentices affected by COVID-19 on GOV.UK, https://help.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/hc/en-gb/sections/360003798540-ApprenticePeople of all ages can also use Find an Apprenticeship to search for new apprenticeship opportunities: https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship.The National Careers Service will continue to provide high-quality, impartial careers information, advice, and guidance to young people at this difficult time via its helpline, website and web chat facility. The Careers & Enterprise Company will also continue to support schools and colleges, where possible, to provide young people with quality careers education and guidance.

Ministry of Justice

Prisoners' Release: Care Homes

lord german: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to seek powers for the End of Custody Temporary Release scheme to apply to Secure Children’s Homes, and if so, when.

lord keen of elie: The safety and well-being of children in custody is of utmost importance. We are committed to containing the spread of COVID-19 within all secure settings, including in secure children’s homes (SCHs) – all of which are abiding by the principles of physical distancing within revised regimes.The End of Custody Temporary Release (ECTR) scheme does not currently apply to SCHs.Although there are currently no children in SCHs who would meet the public or child protection criteria for ECTR, we will determine how to extend ECTR to SCHs should it become necessary i.e. a child is identified as potentially being or becoming in-scope.

Department for International Trade

Medical Equipment: Africa

baroness sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what restrictions they have placed, or plan to put in place, on the export of testing kits and requisite materials to countries in Africa.

lord grimstone of boscobel: The Department for International Trade has not introduced any trade restrictions on the export of testing kits and requisite materials to countries in Africa.

Ministry of Defence

HMS Dasher

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether all papers and reports relating to the loss of HMS DASHER are embargoed for release until 2043; and if so, why.

baroness goldie: No papers and reports relating to the loss of HMS DASHER are embargoed. They are freely available at The National Archives, Kew.

Department for Work and Pensions

Zero Hours Contracts: Coronavirus

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the benefits being made available to employees as a result of the COVID-19 pandemicare availableto those who were on zero-hours contracts and whose employment has ceased.

baroness stedman-scott: The Government is committed to supporting people through this unprecedented time. We have introduced a number of measures, including the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), as well as ensuring Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is payable from day 1, to ensure people are supported. Unemployed people who are not eligible for SSP or CJRS, may be able to claim Universal Credit (UC), ‘new style’ Jobseeker’s Allowance, or ‘new style’ Employment and Support Allowance, and this will include those people who are self-isolating in accordance with government guidelines. People on zero hour contracts who are already claiming UC do not need to take any actions, as UC will auto adjust to represent the income received within that assessment period. More information about the support available during the Covid-19 outbreak is available at: www.gov.uk/coronavirus.

Home Office

Domestic Abuse: Coronavirus

lord pendry: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the rise of cases of domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic; and what support they have provided to the victims of that violence.

baroness williams of trafford: Domestic abuse is unacceptable in any situation. We are working closely with domestic abuse charities, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner and the police to understand the impact of COVID-19 on domestic abuse incidents.The Government has announced £28m of funding to support domestic abuse charities. The Home Office has announced an additional £2 million in funding to help bolster specialist helplines and on line services so that victims can continue to seek support.We have also launched a campaign to raise awareness of domestic abuse and signpost victims to the support services available. The campaign, under the hashtag #YouAreNotAlone, aims to reassure those affected by domestic abuse that support services remain available during this difficult time. Details of these services can be found at www.gov.uk/domestic-abuse

Email: Fraud

lord lucas: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to add a link to the SAFERjobs scheme to webpages where theyadvise the public on how to report suspicious emails and phishing attempts.

baroness williams of trafford: It is up to SAFERJobs to include any guidance that the government provides. The Government is, however, continuing to put out general advice to the public on staying safe online.On 21 April the Government launched a revised Cyber Aware campaign, to coincide with the launch of the NCSC’s new Suspicious Email Reporting Service. The new campaign will:Provide the public and key stakeholders (industry, academia, tech community etc) with the assurance that HMG and the Intelligence and law enforcement community are working on their behalf to minimise the cyber threat;Empower the public and micro-businesses to understand the best ways to stay safe online and feel empowered to take necessary protective actions; andSupport NCSC and wider efforts to combat the threat ‘at source’, taking down or blocking malicious URLs and SMS messages, and working behind the scenes to stop the threat reaching the public. We will prioritise areas where there is the most need for user behaviour to change, or there is active public concern.We also recently launched a gov.uk page on coronavirus-related fraud and cybercrime. The page includes easy-to-follow steps for people to better protect themselves and signposts other relevant advice and tips. It can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-fraud-and-cyber-crimeThe public should make all reports of fraudulent phishing emails and telephone calls to Action Fraud which is the national reporting facility for fraud and cyber crime https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/

Cabinet Office

Elections: Legislation

lord rennard: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the need to modernise and codify electoral legislation as recommended by the Law Commission.

lord true: The Government welcomes the Law Commission’s recently published Electoral Law report. The Government will consider the issues raised in the report, in conjunction with our wider programme of electoral integrity reforms, and will respond fully in due course.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

baroness kennedy of cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what scientific modelling they have seento inform the development of possible strategies to replace the COVID-19-related lockdown in place in England.

lord true: Scientific advice and analysis have underpinned the Government's policy making in the development of current social distancing measures and our recently published roadmap. We will continue to be guided by science in our approach.

Treasury

Devolution: Coronavirus

lord wigley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what additional financial allocation they have made respectively to (1) the Welsh Government, (2) the Scottish Government, and (3) the Northern Ireland Executive, to deal with the implications of COVID-19, in addition to the budget allocation for the current financial year.

lord agnew of oulton: Our response to Covid-19 needs to be UK-wide and that is why UKG has so far announced almost £7 billion of additional funding to the devolved administrations to support people, business and public services in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This means £3.5 billion for the Scottish Government, £2.1 billion for the Welsh Government and £1.2 billion for the Northern Ireland Executive. This is in addition to the UK-wide measures that the people and businesses in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will benefit from, including the Job Retention Scheme, Self-Employment Income Support Scheme and Business Interruption Loan Scheme. Following agreement with the devolved administrations, the Department of Health and Social Care is procuring tests, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and ventilators on a UK-wide basis. The devolved administrations will therefore receive a share of this equipment, rather than a share of the funding.

Motor Vehicles: Taxation

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to reduce taxation on cars to encourage recovery and re-employment following the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord agnew of oulton: The Government recognizes the challenges faced by households as a result of COVID-19. This is why the Government has announced unprecedented support for public services, business and workers to protect them against the current economic emergency. Budget 2020 announced Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) rates would be uprated in line with inflation only so VED liabilities have not increased in real terms since 2010. In addition, Budget announced a freeze in fuel duty rates for the tenth successive year, which by April 2021, will have saved the average car driver £1,200 compared with pre-2010 plans.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Public Libraries

lord bird: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to prioritise libraries for early re-opening as lockdown restrictions are lifted; and what discussions they have had with the Local Government Association on this issue.

baroness barran: Although physical library locations have closed, library services continue to provide and deliver services to its users. This includes online services such as access to e-books and e-audiobooks, where there has been a significant increase in demand, as well as developing innovative and exciting digital ways to provide services such as Rhyme Time and Storytimes, often reaching far more people than before. Ministers and officials have held regular calls with public library stakeholders, including the Local Government Association (LGA) since the announcement on 23 March that libraries were to close. These now include discussions related to the re-opening of library services and how this can be achieved in a safe way for both staff and users. DCMS is working with the library sector and the LGA to identify issues, and to develop guidance, around the measures that public libraries will need to take to enable physical library buildings to reopen and for services to begin to be restored in a phased manner in due course.

Culture: Finance

lord cormack: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that (1) museums, (2) galleries, (3) historic buildings, and (4) cathedrals and churches, are compensated for any lost revenue in the period of enforced closure(a) since the closure was introduced, and (b) if the closure continues into the next four months. [T]

baroness barran: My department is in constant contact with sector bodies, museums and heritage sites directly to assess impacts and are working to develop support for the sector in response to COVID-19. We are also in close contact with counterparts in the devolved nations, as culture is a devolved matter. Significant support has been delivered at speed by DCMS arm’s-length bodies. Arts Council England have launched a £160m Emergency Funding Package, the National Lottery Heritage Fund a £50m Heritage Emergency Fund, and Historic England launched a £2m Emergency Fund. All of these are delivering much-needed support across the sector. We are also pleased that there has already been support pledged for the sector including through the Job Retention Scheme and the availability of grants of up to £25,000 to leisure businesses, including museums operating from smaller premises through the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund. The Government continues to monitor the impact of these and other measures.

The Senior Deputy Speaker

House of Lords: Coronavirus

lord bowness: To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what plans he has to enable the House to return to functioning in the Palace of Westminster.

lord mcfall of alcluith: On 7 May the Commission agreed to proceed with plans for enabling hybrid sittings. Hybrid proceedings would involve both virtual and physical participants. Any return to members attending the House would need to be staged and in line with guidance from Public Health England, including social distancing measures. The Procedure Committee will need to consider the procedural changes required to enable hybrid sittings to work effectively, and members will be provided with more detail on this in the weeks ahead.

Hereditary Peers: By-elections

lord grocott: To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what are the current outstanding by-elections for hereditary peers, indicating in each case the numbers of electors to be involved.

lord mcfall of alcluith: The by-elections for hereditary peers currently outstanding are to fill the vacancies left by the retirements of the Earl of Selborne and the Countess of Mar. In respect of the vacancy created by the retirement of the Earl of Selborne the remaining 46 Conservative excepted hereditary peers are eligible to vote. In respect of the vacancy created by the retirement of the Countess of Mar the whole House is entitled to vote to fill the vacancy as she was elected by the whole House to act as a Deputy Chairman.